Building-front column



(No Model.)

P MESKER BUILDING FRONT COLUMN.

Patented Sept. 2

ZEVVENIOJ %m 4 QM? UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

FRANK MESKER, OF ST. LOUIS, MISSOURI.

BUILDING-FRONT COLUMN.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters PatentNo. 435,848, dated September 2, 1890.

Application filed December 28, 1889. Serial 110,334,608. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, FRANK MEsKER, of St. Louis, Missouri, have made a new and useful Improvement in Building-Front Columns, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description.

The invention relates to a class of columns of a composite nature embodying in their construction thin metallic sheets or plates, and largely used where it is desirable to have a light cheap column capable of being readily transported. In the construction of such columns it has been customary to form not only the face but the entire sides of the col- 1mm of the metallic sheets or plates. I have discovered that it is desirable to stiffen the column at its sides to a greater degree than is practicable when the sides are all metallic without materially increasing the weight and cost of the column, and to accomplish this, as well as to provide means whereby the column can be more readily produced and transported, and at the same time in a form with which the adjoining portion of the front. can be more easily united, is the aim of the improvement under consideration, which consists in the special combination of parts, substantially as is hereinafter set forth and claimed, aided by the annexed drawings, making part of this specification, in which- Figure 1 is a front elevation of the improved column; Fig. 2, a rear elevation, and Fig. 3 a side elevation, thereof; Fig. 4, a horizontal section upon an enlarged scale; Fig. 5, a view in perspective showing the columnface, and Fig. (3 a horizontal section showing a modification.

The same letters of reference denote the same parts.

A represents the column-face. It is composed of a metallic plate having flanges a a, which project backward and respectively lap upon the colun1nsides B B. These last named parts are of wood and are considerably thicker than the flanges a C0, and in width they extend from the face A to the back of the column.

0 represents a piece inserted between the sides 13 B at the back of the column. It may be a single piece extending from the bottom v to the top of the column, or in the place thereof several separate pieces maybe used.

The parts B B C are suitably fastened together, and the parts A B IS are united by means of fastenings D passing through the flanges a a into the sides B B, substantially as shown. By this means is provided a column which, in addition to its qualities of stiffness, lightness, and cheapness, can be readily shipped either in a setup or a knockdown form, and which when used supplies a nailing-surface not only at its back but also at its sides.

An additional feature of the improvement consists in this: The face A, having the flanges, as described, is of metal, and in itself is an article of merchandise which can be readily shipped to points more or less remote, and by the purchaser or consumer readily fitted, substantially in the manner described, to a wooden back portion, so as to form a complete column. Such a face can be more or less, and in any way consistent with the improvement, ornamented as desiredfor instance, as shown at D, Fig. 5.

The ornamental portions may be integral with the main portion of the face, or they may be made separately and attached to the main portion of the face. In place of making the sides B B C separate pieces they may be integral, and instead of being shaped as shown in Fig. 4 the form shown in Fig. 6 may be adopted that is, that portion E of the column in the rear of the face A may be solid.

1 claim The herein-described column, consisting of the face A, having the flanges a a, the thickened sides, and the back piece, combined as set forth.

itness my hand this 21st day of December, 1889.

- FRANK MESKER. Witnesses:

G. D. Moonv, D. W. (J. SANFORD. 

